The Palestine Chronology

A female Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa restaurant, killing 14 Israeli Jews, 5 Israeli Arabs, wounding around 50. (The bomber, Hanadi Taysir Jaradat, who had just graduated fr. law school in Jordan, watched as IDF undercover units assassinated her brother and cousin, both Islamic Jihad mbrs., outside their family home in Jenin on 6/12/03.) Israel says Arafat is to blame for failing to order the PSF to take steps to dismantle Islamic Jihad. Bush says the bombing “underscores once again the responsibility of the Palestinian authorities to fight terror,” says “the new Palestinian cabinet must dedicate itself to dismantling the infrastructure of terror,” does not call for Israeli restraint; Powell also phones Israeli FM Silvan Shalom to express condolences and strong condemnation of the attack, but does not urge restraint. In response, the IDF shells, demolishes an empty Palestinian home in Gaza City, and empty garage in Bureij r.c.; makes a failed assassination attempt on an Islamic Jihad mbr. in central Gaza, firing missiles at him in an open field, but missing him; moves troops into Jenin. Mbrs. of the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) surround Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters to act as human shields should Israel attempt to “remove” him. During the day, the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., assassinates AMB mbr. Sirhan Biharan Hassin Sirhan, whom Israel says killed 5 Israelis in Kibbutz Metzer on 11/10/02, also killing a 9-yr.-old Palestinian bystander; fires on residential areas of Rafah. A Palestinian toddler dies of injuries received on 10/2; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received in 2002. (GS, HA 10/4; AFP, MENA, VOP 10/4, AFP, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds, VIRI, VOP, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MM, WP 10/6; al-Ra’i 10/6 in WNC 10/8; HA, MM, NYT 10/7; PR, WP 10/8; PCHR, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; MM 10/17)

On the 3d day of rioting, an effort to secure a cease-fire fails, and Palestinian-Israeli clashes spread to almost all Palestinian towns, most IDF checkpoints in the West Bank and Gaza, with the Israeli forces reportedly taking harsher actions than on 9/28 or 9/29. While only 8 IDF troops are lightly injured during the day, another 12 Palestinians are killed, more than 500 wounded. The worst fighting takes place outside Nablus, where 8 Palestinians, including 2 PA police officers are killed; and in Gaza, where 200 Palestinians are injured, and 12-yr.-old Muhammad al-Dura and an ambulance driver who tries to rescue him are shot dead. Telephone calls are exchanged among U.S. Secy. of State Albright, Arafat, Barak, Israel's Ben-Ami, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, U.S. special envoy Ross, CIA Dir. Tenet, Russian FM Igor Ivanov, EU officials. Arafat flies to Cairo to meet with Mubarak, EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos. (MENA, RL 9/30, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, JT, MENA, al-Quds 10/1 in WNC 10/2; NYT, WP, WT 10/1; CSM, NYT, WT 10/2; SA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; WJW 10/5; MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10; al-Quds 10/12 in WNC 10/16; MEI 10/13)

In `Ayn al-Hilwa refugee camp in Lebanon, 2,500 Palestinians demonstrate against Israeli actions in Jerusalem. In Cairo, Egyptian students block the train station in protest. (RL 9/30 in WNC 10/2)

Israeli PM Barak, Syrian FM Shara` close 2 days of "friendly" talks in Washington, agree that teams will hold their 1st round of intensive negotiations 1/3+n9 in Washington. (MM 12/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/17; ITAR-TASS 12/17 in WNC 12/20; IRNA, al-Quds, SA 12/20 in WNC 12/21; JP, MEI 12/24)

In Washington, Orthodox Jews protest outside the White House, objecting to any return of the Golan Heights to Syria. (WT 12/17)

In Gaza, Russian dep. FM Sredin hands Arafat a message fr. Pres. Boris Yeltsin, discusses the peace process. (ITAR-TASS 12/16 in WNC 12/17)

In s. Lebanon, 3 IDF shells strike an elementary school, wounding 20 Lebanese children. Israel apologizes for the attack, which marks the 4th time the school has been hit by errant IDF shells over the yrs. Hizballah says it will not retaliate in light of the Syrian-Israeli negotiations ongoing in Washington. (AFP, RL 12/16 in WNC 12/17; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/17; DUS, ITAR-TASS, RL 12/17 in WNC 12/20; NYT 12/18; MEI 12/24)

The PA General Intelligence Service mbrs. detain, severely beat PC mbr. `Abd al-Jawad Salih for participating in a sit-in protest outside Jericho prison where several signers of the Petition of the 20 are still being held. (LAW 12/16; AYM 12/20, al-Quds 12/22 in WNC 12/23; MEI 12/24)

Pakistan extradites to Jordan for questioning a suspected Bin Laden associate Khalil Deek, the 14th person arrested for plotting attacks on tourists. (WP 12/18; JT 12/18, The News [Islamabad] 12/18, 12/19 in WNC 12/20) (see 12/13)

Iraq resumes oil exports. (WT 12/17) (see 11/22)

SLA shells a village in s. Lebanon, killing 1 Lebanese civilian. In response, Hizballah fires 12 rockets into n. Israel, causing no injuries. In retaliation, outgoing PM Netanyahu orders the IDF to strike bridges along Lebanon's coastal highway, main power station in Beirut, power substation in Baalbeck, in total killing 8 civilians, wounding 62, causing a blackout in Beirut. 5 of the dead are fire fighters killed during a 2d IDF raid on the Beirut power plant, where they were trying to contain a blaze started by the 1st attack. (Netanyahu informs PM-elect Barak of the operation after it has begun.) Hizballah strikes back, firing 36 rockets into n. Israel, killing 2 Israeli civilians, injuring 5--the 1st civilian deaths in n. Israel related to the Lebanon conflict in 4 yrs. (AFP, RL, VOL 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; AFP, IDF Radio, IRIB Television, IRNA, JTV, KSC Television [Kuwait], MENA, RJ, RL, RMC, Saudi Arabia Kingdom Radio, VIRI, VOL 6/25, AFP, Iran News, IRNA, MBC, Petra-JNA, RL, RMC 6/26, IRNA, AFP 6/27 in WNC 6/28; NYT, WP, WT 6/26; al-Quds 6/27, ATL, IRA, IRNA, QA, RMC 6/28 in WNC 6/29; AYM 6/27 in WNC 7/1; WP 6/28; WT 6/30; WJW 7/1; JP, MEI 7/2; MEI 7/16) (see 6/23)

Israeli, PA teams hold mtg. on civil issues, including advancing tourism in the framework of Bethlehem 2000. (YA 6/25 in WNC 6/28)

The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reports that the IDF is renovating, fortifying positions along the n. border with Lebanon, suggesting that the IDF mat be making plans for a withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (MA 6/24 in WNC 6/25)

Citing Hizballah Katyusha attacks 12/23, Israel adopts "more aggressive" policy toward Lebanon that will include attacks on Hizballah bases deep inside Lebanon, preemptive strikes on units planting roadside bombs, destruction of Lebanese infrastructure if n. Israel is attacked. Lebanon fears Israel is planning an unprovoked attack during run-up to 5/99 elections. (IDF Radio 1/1, IRNA, al-Quds, RL 1/2, YA 1/3 in WNC 1/5; WT 1/2; RL 1/11 in WNC 1/12; MA 1/24 in WNC 1/26)

U.S. temporarily closes emb. in Israel after receiving a "credible" threats. (ITV 12/31 in WNC 1/4, 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/1)

The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders for construction of 1,051 new housing units in West Bank settlements including 651 units in Beitar Ilit nr. Jerusalem, where 10,000 ultra-Orthodox settlers live. (NYT 1/1; JP 1/11)

Under IDF protection, Jewish settlers move trailers to hills nr. Nablus, confiscating additional Palestinian land to expand Elon Moreh settlement. (al-Hayat al-Jadida 12/31 in WNC 1/5)

10s of Jordanians stage sit-in outside the U.S. emb. in Amman to protest U.S.-led attack on Iraq. (al-Dustur 1/1 in WNC 1/5)